Soft Men

“Hard Times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”

From the book “Those Who Remain” by G. Michael Hopf

I don’t read my bible near enough. This past Sunday, my paster Bishop JC Church of Victory in Truth Ministries was reading from Haggai about the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Israelites were released from Babylonian captivity by Cyrus, as it was foretold in Isaiah 45 (write down that number: 45!). The remnant of Israel has returned to their lands and busy themselves building their own houses while the temple still lay in ruins, 70 years after the Babylonians sacked it. Haggai has some critically important lessons for us, and it’s time to stop and consider these words.

“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

Haggai 1:4

God hears us. He hears our prayers and will restore this nation for our faith and trust in him. I feel this deeply! But what will we do with what he has given us? Will we panel our houses and plant grass in the front yard to impress our neighbors, when the very fabric upon which this nation is built lies in ruin?

We have become those soft men described in Hopf’s book. We think more about our own well-being than we do about the billions of souls around us, starving for salvation and the light of God’s promise. We, Christian believers have let this happen, through our apathy and self-centeredness. I let this happen to my family. Because when they came for our babies, we let them have abortion. When they came to take away prayers in schools, we learned to hide our faith. When they tell us that there are 58 genders, we shrink back and don’t stand against it. We let this so called “women’s liberation” bring men in this country to shirk our responsibilities as the leaders of our families.  Our softness has led to hard times for our nation. We conformed. And with that, we allow the destruction of all we hold dear.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2

But we don’t need to stay in this way. We can look down and see the solid rock under our feet laid down by God’s promise to us. Surrendering our will to the holy spirit, to the point there is no separation from our thoughts and attitudes with that of the holy spirit. Listening to every single thought and testing it against the perfect will of God brings us to take one step, just one step towards Christ. And learn to do that every day in all that we do, for our families, for our community, our country – walk towards the light of Gods salvation and let the joy we get by resting our soles in his care, let it shine out for all to see. And they too will follow his path.

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-12